In C♭ major, G is G (flat)The key signature of C♭ major puts a flat on every G.

Is G flat in C♭ major?

In C♭ major, G is G♭: the key signature puts a flat on every G, in every octave, for as long as that signature stands.

The signature of C♭ major is seven flats, B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭ and F♭. G♭ is one of them, which is why you never see a flat written next to the note — the signature at the start of the staff already said it.

Spelled from the tonic, the C♭ major scale runs C♭, D♭, E♭, F♭, G♭, A♭, B♭ — one of each letter, each carrying whatever the signature gives it. The staff above draws the C♭ major signature and the note G♭ inside it — exactly as you would meet it in a piece written in this key.

Every letter in C♭ major

C♭ major has seven flats, B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭ and F♭. That fixes what each of the seven letters is called in this key:

  • C is C♭
  • D is D♭
  • E is E♭
  • F is F♭
  • G is G♭ — the letter on this page
  • A is A♭
  • B is B♭

C♭ major shares its signature with its relative A♭ minor — the same sharps or flats, so G is G♭ there too.

C♭ major and B major are the same key on the keyboard, written two different ways — so they answer this question differently: G is G♭ in C♭ major, and G♯ in B major.

Frequently asked questions

Is G flat in C♭ major?
Yes. C♭ major has seven flats, B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭ and F♭, and G♭ is one of them, so every G in the key is played as G♭.
What accidental does G carry in C♭ major?
G is G♭ (flat). The signature of C♭ major is seven flats, B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭ and F♭. G♭ is one of them, which is why you never see a flat written next to the note — the signature at the start of the staff already said it.
What sharps or flats are in C♭ major?
C♭ major has seven flats, B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, C♭ and F♭ — written in that order at the start of the staff.
How is the C♭ major scale spelled?
From the tonic up: C♭, D♭, E♭, F♭, G♭, A♭, B♭. Each letter appears once, carrying whatever the key signature gives it.